The 40 day Georgia legislative session starts this week. WABE politics reporters Rahul Bali and Sam Gringlas talk with politics editor Susanna Capelouto about what's ahead. Some state leaders already signaled they will loosen gun laws and take up crime fighting bills as Republicans try to prove their conservative credentials ahead of contentious May primaries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 09, 2022•21 min•Ep. 184
On this week’s Political Breakfast podcast, host Lisa Rayam along with strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson discuss the latest move by some Georgia school districts to protect students against the spread of the Omicron variant. Will a week of on-line learning have a severe impact on kids and schools? Brian and Tharon weigh in on both sides of the issue. Plus, the role unsubstantiated claims continue to play in the pandemic. Georgia U-S Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is banned fro...
Jan 05, 2022•28 min•Ep. 183
Former U.S. Sen. “Johnny” Isakson passed away earlier this month at the age of 76 after a long, accomplished political career. Brian Robinson hosts a special tribute episode featuring three former chiefs of staff and friends of the late Georgia lawmaker: Attorney General Chris Carr, along with political strategists Joan Carr and Heath Garrett. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 29, 2021•52 min•Ep. 182
Outgoing Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms talks candidly about Atlanta's crime rate, the ongoing federal investigation involving the previous regime, her rift with Governor Brian Kemp over his handling of the pandemic, and if her future aspirations include a role in President Biden's Administration. The Political Breakfast crew also discusses the race for Georgia Governor. Recent polls show former Senator David Perdue edging past fellow Republican Brian Kemp. Will Trump's endorsement of Perdue cost Ke...
Dec 15, 2021•53 min•Ep. 181
Former U.S. Senator David Perdue says he’s running for governor of Georgia in order to save the state and the Republican party. Incumbent governor and fellow Republican Brian Kemp, who is running for re-election says the move is egotistical and a way for Perdue to redeem himself after losing his U.S Senate seat in 2020. Does Democrat Stacey Abrams stand to gain from the divisiveness? And, what impact is a very vocal former President Donald Trump is having on the race? See omnystudio.com/listener...
Dec 08, 2021•28 min•Ep. 180
It’s a resounding win for Atlanta Mayor-elect Andre Dickens. His opponent, Felicia Moore. says now that the race is over she will support him 100%. During this live Political Breakfast, strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson sort through the runoff election results with Morning Edition host Lisa Rayam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 01, 2021•19 min•Ep. 179
Hours after state lawmakers sent the newly approved GOP-favored district maps to Governor Brian Kemp's desk for signature, 6th District Congresswoman Lucy McBath proclaimed that she "refuses to stand down" and announced a run for the newly created Democratic District 7. McBath vows to fight Republicans every step of the way. In addition, a new GOP poll suggests Governor Brian Kemp would be in trouble in a Republican primary should former Senator David Perdue decide to run. When pollsters present...
Nov 24, 2021•21 min•Ep. 178
Atlanta Mayoral Candidate Andre Dickens shares his views on crime, affordable housing and the proposed Buckhead City movement. He says his stance on all three issues is what sets him apart from his opponent, Council President Felicia Moore. Dickens also breaks down why serving as the city’s CEO would allow him to foster unity across party lines. Also, Governor Kemp launches a new television ad that’s one minute long. Some wonder if he jumped the gun, long before the gubernatorial election by rea...
Nov 17, 2021•52 min•Ep. 177
The Atlanta Mayoral runoff is just weeks away and candidate Felicia Moore stops by Political Breakfast to share what makes her stand out from her opponent, Andre Dickens. Moore talks about crime and how a key component to getting the rising rates under control is to show officers some appreciation. In addition, she talks about the City of Buckhead movement. Moore did especially well in the affluent suburb in the municipal election, but although she plans to be tough on the crime that’s worrying ...
Nov 10, 2021•45 min•Ep. 176
Atlanta’s mayoral race was THE closely watched race. 14 candidates in all, yet only three landed near the top. Just two make it into the November 30 runoff. What direction did the undecideds move in when they finally made it to the polls? Also, State lawmakers tackle redistricting. It stands to be a contentious fight that will likely end up in court. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 03, 2021•24 min•Ep. 175
The President of the Atlanta NAACP apologizes for publicly renouncing Kasim Reed for Mayor. This is after the National President cried foul and ordered Richard Rose to retract his statements. Also, some say Governor Brian Kemp played politics with the World Series. Did he use the Braves shining moment to revisit the state's new voting law and spin why Georgia missed out on the All Star Game? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 27, 2021•30 min•Ep. 174
Stacey Abrams campaigns for a fellow Democrat running for Governor in Virginia. While there, she tells a crowd she wasn’t in a position to “inherit” the Governor’s job in Georgia. That comment alone has some wondering IF she will announce another run for the job soon or is she implying that ship has sailed. In addition, Charlie Bailey is running for Attorney General. He stops by to talk about his campaign, the Ahmaud Arbery case , the controversial new voting law and the heartbeat bill. See omny...
Oct 20, 2021•43 min•Ep. 173
Fulton County's Elections Department remains under the microscope as early voting gets underway. Two workers are accused of shredding voter registration applications. What this could mean for the Director whose job has been in jeopardy for months now. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger calls for a Justice Department Investigation but also has time to write an op-ed for a national news outlet. HE says Stacey Abrams and Donald Trump play politics on the same team. See omnystudio.com/listener fo...
Oct 13, 2021•39 min•Ep. 172
Trump loyalists within the Cobb County GOP are making moves to derail Governor Brian Kemp’s re-election campaign. Attorney General Chris Carr responds as well as tackle other issues like SB 202 and human trafficking. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 06, 2021•38 min•Ep. 171
A new survey conducted by the Atlanta business leaders grade city council/mayoral candidates. Some are considered excellent leaders, others not so excellent. Plus, AJC reporter Greg Bluestein talks about his new book Flipped. It covers how last year’s Senate Races launched Georgia in the national political forum. He also addressed How all that will that play into the next election cycle. Law enforcement officers and other emergency personal get a $100 bonus in federal stimulus dollars from Gover...
Sep 29, 2021•42 min•Ep. 170
Former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young talks about how the city should get tougher on crime. He also weighs in on a recent poll that indicates most residents are not impressed with the way current mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has handled tough issues like crime, affordable housing and traffic congestion. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 22, 2021•36 min•Ep. 169
A new AJC poll shows the Atlanta mayoral race is tight and getting tighter. Former Mayor Kasim Reed and City Council President Felicia Moore appear to be in a statistical dead heat. Another poll commissioned by those who want Buckhead to become a city...indicates it would thrive financially as a stand alone. If true, How would Atlanta handle the loss? And Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan discusses his book about the controversial 2020 Presidential election d and how it's stands to pave t...
Sep 15, 2021•49 min•Ep. 168
Lisa and Tharon are joined by conservative strategist Martha Zoller to talk about the race for mayor in Atlanta. The election is less than eight weeks away and it appears the recent Demographic and political shifts generated by the census. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 08, 2021•40 min•Ep. 167
Georgia’s legislature is about to hold a special session to redraw district boundaries, and that could affect who goes to Capitol Hill or the Georgia State Capitol. Dr. Charles Bullock, the Richard B. Russell Chair in Political Science at UGA, joins Lisa, Tharon and Brian to discuss the redistricting process. Republicans control the process and Democrats are already crying foul. Plus, hear what Dr. Bullock thinks about UGA alumni Herschel Walker’s run for U.S. Senate. See omnystudio.com/listener...
Sep 01, 2021•45 min•Ep. 166
Many call him the Turnaround Expert. Dekalb CEO Michael Thurmond talks with Lisa, Brian and Tharon about boosting the county's Covid 19 vaccination rates by offering incentives. And the CEO reacts to Governor Brian Kemp's latest order protecting businesses from enforcing mask restrictions. Also, a look at former UGA star Herschel Walker’s recent move to Buckhead and why that may indicate he's running for U-S Senate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 25, 2021•46 min•Ep. 165
Is Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger getting "Trumped" by the former president during his run for reelection? There are hurdles in the way, many put in place by his own Republican Party. What is Raffensperger’s strategy for clearing those obstacles? Plus, the Buckhead City movement. A new poll suggests there's strong support for the General Assembly to put the creation of a new Buckhead City up for a vote on the November 2022 ballot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...
Aug 18, 2021•42 min•Ep. 164
Atlantans are soon to elect a new mayor BUT a recent poll shows many are still undecided. And Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker emerges as the possible GOP candidate to challenge Raphael Warnock's Senate seat, even though the former Georgia Bulldogs star hasn’t declared a run or said a word. Plus, Georgia State Representative and candidate for Secretary of State Bee Nguyen joins as a special guest to weigh in on hate crimes, infrastructure, and gerrymandering. See omnystudio.com/listener for...
Aug 11, 2021•41 min•Ep. 163
Like the game of chess, some Georgia Senators make the first strategic move to replace Fulton County's election board with one run by the state. But Democrats may be contemplating moves of their own. Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts and State Senator Brandon Beach are special guests. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 04, 2021•34 min•Ep. 162
More Georgia Republicans are calling for election reform in Fulton County. The ultimate goal is to push out county officials in favor of complete state control. Is this a practical move after the controversial presidential election or potentially a huge bust? Also, how mask mandates may become political fodder on the campaign trail. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 28, 2021•33 min•Ep. 161
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms plans to create an office of violence reduction to address rising crime in the city, while Governor Brian Kemp wants Georgia lawmakers to pass anti-crime bills during this fall’s special legislative session. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 21, 2021•38 min•Ep. 160
Georgia governor Brian Kemp announced his reelection campaign, and says he'll be "running scared and hard.” Is he mainly concerned about the lingering ire of Donald Trump, or potential Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams? And the legal wrangling over Georgia’s new voting laws continues, now that the US Justice Department has sued the state. Plus, two Republican candidates in their 30’s announce plans to challenge Democratic incumbent Lucy McBath in the 6th Congressional district next year. Can t...
Jul 14, 2021•33 min•Ep. 159
The fight over how we vote, when we can vote, and who can vote has only intensified in the half a year since the 2020 elections and the Senate runoffs in Georgia. But to understand how we got here, it’s a good idea to look at those 2020 campaigns again, with fresh eyes and perhaps some information we didn’t have at the time. In a special live broadcast edition—his final one as host of the Political Breakfast—WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer welcomed a couple of special guests who know a ...
Jun 24, 2021•59 min•Ep. 158
Many of us in Georgia are moving away from talking about COVID-19, but the nation’s Democratic vice president and Georgia’s Republican governor haven’t finished—though they look at things differently. Meanwhile, a former Atlanta U.S. Attorney is at the center of new revelations about the Trump administration’s efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election. And a former Atlanta city administration’s spending habits are the subject of an audit—just in time for this year’s mayoral race. WABE politica...
Jun 18, 2021•57 min•Ep. 157
Did someone say, “summer vacation?” Around here, politics will not take a summer vacation. From a governor who faced loud booing from a faction of his own party, to a former Atlanta mayor who wants the job again, to state hearings on Atlanta’s violent crime problem—it’s already a hot summer, with no vacation from politics. WABE political contributor Denis O’Hayer talks it over with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...
Jun 11, 2021•54 min•Ep. 156
The fight in Congress over a national voting rights bill intensifies in Washington, with Georgia as one of the main exhibits. Meanwhile, right here, lawsuits are flying on both sides. Looking to the elections this year and next, one familiar name could end up in a new contest, while another talks about why she passed up a bid for another term. And Georgia’s COVID-19 restrictions continue to disappear, but the fight over the state’s response will continue for a long time. WABE political contribut...
Jun 04, 2021•53 min•Ep. 155
